Although I finished work 4.5 hours ago, I'm still at the office, waiting for the IT guys to install a new server. On a Friday afternoon! LM and I were invited out to dinner tonight, and I know that the Arsenal-Man. United match tomorrow is a must see, but that's all the plans for this weekend. Any suggestions?
We saw the Time Traveller's Wife this week - a good movie for those who will never read the book, and a good role by Eric Bana. I also had a chance to jam with a friend last night, my first time at a drum set in many years, and I'm really rusty! Hopefully, this will be the first of many jam sessions.
Friday, August 28, 2009
It's been one week...
Well, almost! Now, where where we? Ah, yes. Sunday last, and the imminent rock concert. We decided to visit Coastal Church, but were to late for the music, at the 12:30 service. Very interactive sermon, including live swordfighting and video clips. Listen to the podcast for more details. The rest of the afternoon was a bit of a wash, as we conserved energy, then it was off to http://www.chambar.com/ in Crosstown for a light supper.
The moules frites was fantastic, especially the Moules Congolais, although nothing like the mussels in the Congo! With our reservation, we were able to get in an out in time for the short walk to GM place. Although the lines at the door where not long, there was an air of eager excitement. We're not talking "Jonas Brothers delayed crossing the border" frenzy, but a rising hum, none the less.
The Whigs were already on stage when we arrived, and as enthusiastic as they were, I think they would be better seen at a smaller venue, such as the media club, where they are headlining on November 13.
So, lulled by the underwhelming opening band, we were not prepared for the knockout punch that is Kings of Leon on tour. They have clearly stepped into their arena-playing days with a sagacity unexpected of hard-living garage-band rockers. The playlist order controlled the audience well, the sound filled the arena, and the video/light show added to, rather than detracting from, the stage presence of Caleb Followill. LM thought he was unattractive (which pleased me greatly), and we were all-in-all impressed with our first rock concert together.
The moules frites was fantastic, especially the Moules Congolais, although nothing like the mussels in the Congo! With our reservation, we were able to get in an out in time for the short walk to GM place. Although the lines at the door where not long, there was an air of eager excitement. We're not talking "Jonas Brothers delayed crossing the border" frenzy, but a rising hum, none the less.
The Whigs were already on stage when we arrived, and as enthusiastic as they were, I think they would be better seen at a smaller venue, such as the media club, where they are headlining on November 13.
So, lulled by the underwhelming opening band, we were not prepared for the knockout punch that is Kings of Leon on tour. They have clearly stepped into their arena-playing days with a sagacity unexpected of hard-living garage-band rockers. The playlist order controlled the audience well, the sound filled the arena, and the video/light show added to, rather than detracting from, the stage presence of Caleb Followill. LM thought he was unattractive (which pleased me greatly), and we were all-in-all impressed with our first rock concert together.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Could a weekend be better?
So, by Friday afternoon, we were pretty excited for the Kings of Leon concert - we had tickets for Sunday - and wanted to rush through the weekend. Little did we know all the activity that could be packed into a single weekend in Vancouver...
Friday after work we popped into Solly's after work, for a little snack. Try the knishes for a traditional Jewish savoury snack, and of course ethical bean coffee. The rugoleh, although IMO not as good as Siegel's, was still quite tasty, flaky, and fresh!
A craving for baked brie, and a sale on ripe mango and papaya led to an improvised mezze meal at home, with olives, dolmades, homemade bruschetta, guacamole, baked brie with pepper jelly and a pitcher of tropical sangria! Candlelight dinner with a view of the city from our dining room made the evening complete, and we wrapped it up with an exciting thriller, "Obsessed", better than you would think from Beyonce and Ali Larter. And that was just Friday night!
Saturday started early, because it was the opening day of the English Premier League (EPL), and there is NO BETTER WAY to celebrate football in Vancouver, than at Abruzzo Cappuccino Bar on Commercial Drive. It's nitty-gritty, white linoleum floor and old laminate tables don't seem to fit in with the 7 pm Drive scene we're used to, but at 8- noon on Saturday and Sunday mornings, the crowd of old and young gather from all corners of the world for one purpose - footie. I enjoyed a fabulous espresso (or four? from a machine older than myself, and my better half was shocked to discover what cappuccino vero can be - a mound of stiff milk foam so smooth you can spread it. We left with me exhilarated by Arsenal's 6-1 win and completely hopped on doppio espressos. Saturday was supposed to be a day to get away from the urban crowding, but with the threat of rain all day, we dawdled down the Drive, ordered lunch from the Grotto again (see previous post), checked out the Van East Fermer's Market (disappointing), but scored some great eggplants and peppers at Norman's Grocery, which, with a handful of fresh basil, prepped us for a light linguine recipe and the rest of the sangria. Then, it was off to the mall for a first weekend viewing of District 9. To describe how good it was, we were still relating life events to that film, right after the rock concert last night. Sorry KoL, you were upstaged by prawns!!! (LM thinks they're cute ;)
After such a full weekend, it was hard to believe we hadn't even got to the main event! More on that in the next post...
Friday after work we popped into Solly's after work, for a little snack. Try the knishes for a traditional Jewish savoury snack, and of course ethical bean coffee. The rugoleh, although IMO not as good as Siegel's, was still quite tasty, flaky, and fresh!
A craving for baked brie, and a sale on ripe mango and papaya led to an improvised mezze meal at home, with olives, dolmades, homemade bruschetta, guacamole, baked brie with pepper jelly and a pitcher of tropical sangria! Candlelight dinner with a view of the city from our dining room made the evening complete, and we wrapped it up with an exciting thriller, "Obsessed", better than you would think from Beyonce and Ali Larter. And that was just Friday night!
Saturday started early, because it was the opening day of the English Premier League (EPL), and there is NO BETTER WAY to celebrate football in Vancouver, than at Abruzzo Cappuccino Bar on Commercial Drive. It's nitty-gritty, white linoleum floor and old laminate tables don't seem to fit in with the 7 pm Drive scene we're used to, but at 8- noon on Saturday and Sunday mornings, the crowd of old and young gather from all corners of the world for one purpose - footie. I enjoyed a fabulous espresso (or four? from a machine older than myself, and my better half was shocked to discover what cappuccino vero can be - a mound of stiff milk foam so smooth you can spread it. We left with me exhilarated by Arsenal's 6-1 win and completely hopped on doppio espressos. Saturday was supposed to be a day to get away from the urban crowding, but with the threat of rain all day, we dawdled down the Drive, ordered lunch from the Grotto again (see previous post), checked out the Van East Fermer's Market (disappointing), but scored some great eggplants and peppers at Norman's Grocery, which, with a handful of fresh basil, prepped us for a light linguine recipe and the rest of the sangria. Then, it was off to the mall for a first weekend viewing of District 9. To describe how good it was, we were still relating life events to that film, right after the rock concert last night. Sorry KoL, you were upstaged by prawns!!! (LM thinks they're cute ;)
After such a full weekend, it was hard to believe we hadn't even got to the main event! More on that in the next post...
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Late nights in Europe - RT @gridskipper
Reading this blog post by Gridskipper reminded me of Berlin and Berne. Traveling alone across Europeby train in 2006, with only a garment bag in hand. Went looking for a "hip hangout" as described by Lonely Planet, but sorely disappointed, so I squeezed into a random jampacked club where there was live Latin music. It turned out the band, from Bolivia I think, had an avid German following. The air conditioning was maxed out, so I found a table top by the men's room door. Every time the door opened, a waft of cold air blew up into the air, and we four strangers dancing salsa on the tabletop shouted for joy. I wish I could remember the name, I think it was near the end of Oranienburger Straße. I left the club sometime after 4, with the band still playing, to catch my train to Vienna.
I never meant to get to Berne, but I missed the train to Marseilles, it was raining in Zurich, and I hoped to get free of the rain. It was raining in Berne also, a light mist that didn't dampen the moods of the crowds enjoying free jazz on the streets during their international jazz festival. I arrived after dark, and when it got too chilly I hunkered down in a coffeehouse crowded with steaming damp wool coats. Striking up conversations with the Swiss is pretty easy, and a group of us carried on a conversation in English, French, German and Italian (with translations back and forth) until we were kicked out, at which time, we found a Cuban club serving up mojitos until 6 am.
Friday, August 07, 2009
Friday Fun?
It's Friday, and I should be all excited for the weekend. But, at the end of a week of holidays, one day just blends into the next, in a steady procession of relaxing, guilt-tripping myself into chores, more relaxing, and taking a break from relaxing.
This morning dawned as one of those days when you don't want to get out of bed, but wish your chicken noodle soup could be delivered. Ah, the Vancouver summer I had heard so much about is finally upon us. After weeks of Torontonian heat wave and bright sun, with the accompanying short fuses and miserable people, the tranquility of coastal grey has returned. A day when you don't want to go to work at all, but write blogs about the weather instead.
So, after sending the missus off to work (someone has to put food on the table), I'm keeping warm with a cuppa and thinking about what to add to my soup order, so that the Vietnamese restaurant across the street will deliver for lunch.
There is some thrill in the arrival of Friday night, as with two days off, the missus has promised to cook dinner for me! In addition,having her at home means I may actually leave the house tomorrow. And Sunday, our pastor is gone, so there should be some variation at church...I guess I sympathize with hard working stay-at-home folks. They can't really go to the office for a weekend getaway, now, can they? It's like those who live in vacation destinations and have their summers ruined.
I certainly appreciate my working life more now, as it's just so much simpler to TGIF and slack off for the afternoon when you're in the office!
This morning dawned as one of those days when you don't want to get out of bed, but wish your chicken noodle soup could be delivered. Ah, the Vancouver summer I had heard so much about is finally upon us. After weeks of Torontonian heat wave and bright sun, with the accompanying short fuses and miserable people, the tranquility of coastal grey has returned. A day when you don't want to go to work at all, but write blogs about the weather instead.
So, after sending the missus off to work (someone has to put food on the table), I'm keeping warm with a cuppa and thinking about what to add to my soup order, so that the Vietnamese restaurant across the street will deliver for lunch.
There is some thrill in the arrival of Friday night, as with two days off, the missus has promised to cook dinner for me! In addition,having her at home means I may actually leave the house tomorrow. And Sunday, our pastor is gone, so there should be some variation at church...I guess I sympathize with hard working stay-at-home folks. They can't really go to the office for a weekend getaway, now, can they? It's like those who live in vacation destinations and have their summers ruined.
I certainly appreciate my working life more now, as it's just so much simpler to TGIF and slack off for the afternoon when you're in the office!
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
Long Weekend that never ends?
Added on to the Civic Holiday long weekend, my office is closed for the week so I have an extended home stay. Which means that, after a day of lounging in front of the TV yesterday, I got hopped up on caffeine today, got my British Columbia driver's license (I'm now an offical resident), read the weekend's news (sorry to Twitter followers and FB friends for the status updates), and decided to start a new blog for a hobby, and maybe write a book. In addition to cleaning the kitchen, doing somelaundry and vaccuuming, I suppose.
This weekend was the end of my first month of marriage, and as Laura put it, still 800-odd left to go! Actually, when I reflect on the fact that I have only lived 364 months it seemd rather short and brief. Who measures time in months anyways? Which reminds me, congrats to my sister and brother-in-law, who are celebrating their 4th anniversary, and planning for Child #2.
Now that I've got my "virtual life" kickstarted, if you have a blog or are on twitter, and think I'd like to hear what's going on (and aren't afraid of me plagarizing your brilliance in the form of a re-tweet), send me an email...
And, because the list of people I need to email is getting longer by the minute, I'm off.
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